Karl King Band will offer Irish tunes today

Free concert will be held at ICCC’s Decker Auditorium

March 16, 2014

The Karl L. King Municipal Band will perform its annual Irish concert in celebration of St. Patrick's Day at 3:30 p.m. today at the Decker Auditorium of Iowa Central Community College.

There is no admission charge as the concert is provided free by the city of Fort Dodge. Conductor of the band is Jerrold P. Jimmerson, and the assistant conductor is Dr. David Klee.

Many familiar tunes will be performed, including "McNamara's Band," as arranged by former conductor Reginald R. Schive. Other selections on the program include "The Emerald Isle," by Dave Black, and "Fantasia on the Dargason," from the Second Suite in F Major for Military Band by Gustav Holst.

Several march selections will be performed, including "McKinley's Own" and "Bon Voyage," both by Karl L. King, along with "The Boys of the Old Brigade," by W. Paris Chambers and "The Irish Boys," by Bill Wiley.

A medley, "Strains from Erin," by Lucien Cailliet, will be the afternoon's classical highlight. This collection of well-known, traditional Irish folk melodies includes "St. Patrick's Day," "Those Endearing Young Charms," "The Rakes of Mallow," "Killarney," "The Last Rose of Summer," "Wearing of the Green" and "The Irish Washerwoman."

Special guest soloist will be Bob Patton, baritone, from Gowrie. Patton attended the University of Northern Iowa before joining the U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants in Washington, D.C. During his 20-year career in the military, Patton soloed with the National Symphony and the Boston and Cincinnati Pops Orchestras. He also performed with the Washington Civic, Baltimore, Wolf Trap, Northern Virginia and Annapolis opera companies. In 1991, he returned to Gowrie and became editor and publisher of The Gowrie News, the fourth-generation owner of a 110-year-old family business. He recently retired from the newspaper , but is still an active and sought-after as a vocalist throughout the Midwest.

Patton will perform "That's An Irish Lullaby (Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral)" from the Bing Crosby movie "Going My Way," followed by the humorous George M. Cohan classic, "Harrigan," and concluding with "Londonderry Air." Patton also will lead the audience in a sing-along of "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" and "My Wild Irish Rose."

This concert will close with the national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner." In case of inclement weather, the concert will be canceled.